And more to the point, Harris bemoans the perception in Hollywood that Inception was a favor to Chris Nolan to bribe him into making another Batman movie, rather than a viable model. Sure, it would be great if studios took risks on more truly original ideas. But are we seriously decrying a situation in which an auteur who makes dark, developed, intensely political, and wildly commercially successful action movies* is able to force his studio to let him make hugely personal, beautiful blockbusters? There are worse things.

*I also categorically reject the idea that serial storytelling, whether it’s about superheroes or not, is inherently devoid of ambition or unable to be great. But that’s a conversation for another day.